|
|
The P.W.S.33 Wyzel (Pointer) was a twin engined trainer produced to help Polish pilots train to use the advanced P.Z.L. P.38 Wilk.
In the autumn of 1936 the Polish air force decided to form ten attack-fighter squadrons, which would be equipped with the new P.Z.L. P.38 Wilk. This was to be a twin engine two-seat fighter and dive bomber that could replace the P.Z.L. P.11 fighter and equip new attack wings, where it would perform as a dive-bomber, ground attack aircraft and anti-tank weapon. It was to be a low wing twin engined monoplane, using a series of advanced design features. In order to cope with this new aircraft the Polish Aviation Command decided to order a twin engined trainer with similar handling characteristics and the same technology as the Wilk, which could also be used as a light bomber if needed.
The task of developing the new trainer was given to P.W.S. They consulted with the designers of the Wilk, allowing them to produce a design that was very similar aerodynamically to the Wilk.
The P.W.S.33 was a twin engined low wing monoplane, powered by two 130hp P.Z.Inz Major inline engines, and with a twin tail. It was armed with a fixed forward firing machine gun and had racks to carry light bombs. The crew were carried in a cockpit covered by a long glazed canopy.
A full scale mock-up was built over the winter of 1937-38. Work then began on two flying prototypes and a structural test airframe. The first prototype, the P.W.S.33/I Wyzel I, was completed in November 1938, and was immediately sent to the Paris Salon (where it was described as the P.Z.L. Wyzel in government backed attempt to boost the prestige of the more famous company).
At this point the aircraft hadn’t actually flown, and its maiden flight didn’t come until January 1939! It was reported to have good handling qualities. The second prototype followed soon afterwards, and it passed its certification trails in the spring. The first prototype then went back to P.W.S. for development work, while the second went to the 1st Air Regiment at Warsaw for its service acceptance trials. A production order was probably placed in the summer of 1939, but little progress had been made before the German invasion of September 1939. The first prototype was destroyed when the P.W.S. factory was bombarded during the invasion. The second was slightly damaged at Okecie, but was captured by the Germans and taken to Berlin. It was later destroyed in Germany.
Although the Wyzel had been a success, the Wilk had not. Problems with the Polish designed engine it was designed around meant that alternatives had to be found. The eventual solution was to use the Gnome-Rhone 14M Mars double row radial, in the modified P.Z.L.P.48 Lampart. However this version wasn’t completed by the time of the German invasion of 1939, so none of the aircraft the Wyzel was designed to support ever entered service.
Engine: Two P.Z.Inz Major 4B four-cylinder inverted inline air cooled engines
Power: 130hp each
Crew: 2
Span: 30ft 4.75in
Length: 22ft 9.25in
Height: 8ft 5in
Empty Weight: 2,094lb
Loaded Weight: 3,109lb
Maximum Speed: 195.7mph at sea level
Cruising Speed: 161.5mph at 3,280ft
Climb rate:
Ceiling: 14,763ft
Range: 720 miles
Guns: One fixed 7.7mm machine gun
Bomb load: Racks for light bombs